Steve Millar

3 days ago | chicagotribune.com | Steve Millar

WASHINGTON, Ill. — Freshman midfielder Gabby Tylka is one of many reasons why Providence feels that — after winning its second straight sectional title and putting a scare Tuesday night into powerhouse Peoria Notre Dame — this might be just the start. Tylka, who scored 10 goals this season and whose skills are advanced enough that she is set to play this summer with a U23 semipro team, certainly believes the future is bright. “It’s been a great year,” Tylka said.

4 days ago | chicagotribune.com | Steve Millar

The Southland basketball community lost a legend when Len Scaduto died on May 13 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was 93. Scaduto coached Oak Lawn’s boys basketball team from 1962 to 1991, going 411-340 and leading his 1970-71 team to a state runner-up finish. But that wasn’t all. After retiring at Oak Lawn, Scaduto moved to Hawaii and kept coaching. Colleges. High schools. A semipro team. He remained on the sidelines until he was nearly 90.

4 days ago | chicagotribune.com | Steve Millar

EAST PEORIA — Taylor Norkus almost wasn’t a Beecher Bobcat. When she was in middle school, Norkus and her parents had a decision to make. Norkus was a talented pitcher, but at Beecher, she would likely be behind Ava Lorenzatti, who was in the same 2026 class and even back then was considered one of the top pitchers in the country. “There was an opportunity for me to go to a different school,” Norkus said. “We passed it up and this is where we are now.

6 days ago | chicagotribune.com | Steve Millar

Returning most of the team that won the 2024 Class 4A state title, Providence has dealt with large expectations all season. And perhaps no one has had more to live up to than Nate O’Donnell. O’Donnell, a senior infielder/pitcher, had a monster junior season. The 2024 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year was one of the state’s top hitters and a clutch big-game pitcher. That’s a high bar to set for yourself, but O’Donnell has faced it just fine.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Steve Millar

Luke Mensik has always been the little brother in a dynamic baseball duo he’s formed with his brother, Landon. Landon, who graduated last year from Lincoln-Way Central, is now playing at Xavier. Luke is set to join him there next year. For now, however, Luke is enjoying the perspective that has developed in his one season without his sibling by his side. “It’s 100% a different feeling,” Mensik said. “I always grew up playing on Landon’s teams. I was always in his shadow a little bit.